Peren is a beautiful picturesque hill station inhabited by the Zeliang people. All Saints Hr. Sec. School is situated right in the heart of Peren Town. It had its humble beginning in March 1965 with Mr. Bony as Headmaster and Mrs. Ivy Bony as Teacher with about 30 students. Mr. Namgaheing, then Chairman of the Tribal Council of Zeliang Kuki Area and Mr. Ashiho Mao, then an Over Seer in PWD, invited Fr. Felix Joseph, then Parish Priest of Christ King Parish Kohima to visit Peren in the fourth quarter of 1964. They invited Father Felix with the hope of opening a school in this remote area of Nagaland. The young, dynamic missionary readily responded to their invitation. To study the scope of opening the school Lt. Rt. Rev. Hubert Rosario, then Bishop of Dibrugarh, visited Peren at the invitation of Mr. Namgaheing in January 1965. After the visit, he gave the go ahead to Fr. Felix who started the school in March 1965 and christened it All Saints Home Cambridge School.The school was being managed by a group of Teachers until 1980 under the supervision of Fathers from Christ King Parish Kohima in the early years and Fathers from Holy Cross Parish, Dimapur and St. Xavier’s Parish, Jalukie during the later years. After the erection of St. Paul’s Parish, Peren, Fathers took over the management of school and began to stay at Peren.
All Saints began to function in a rented building which later shifted to yet another rented building. In 1975 a semi-pucca building was constructed for the school in the land allotted to the school by the Administration. In 1983 a beautiful building was built and the school began functioning from it. As the students increased, the need for more class rooms was felt an eventually, in 1990 the new block was inaugurated. The first floor of the new block was inaugurated in 2001. Various co-curricular activities of the school required a good auditorium and this dream materialized in the year 2005 with the construction of the new building with ground floor as Administrative Block and the first floor as Auditorium which at present can accommodate almost 900 students. Land allotted to the school but occupied by the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) was given back to the school in 2006 and a new double-storied building was constructed and the primary section was shifted to the new wing. At present All Saints boost of well built class rooms with all necessary amenities.
There was a change in the name with the up gradation to middle school in 1982, when it was renamed, All Saints School. All Saints had come a long way since 1965 and at the time of its up gradation in 1982, the School had an enrollment of 191 students and 10 teaching staffs. It became a full pledged high school in 1990 with the first batch appearing for HSLC in 1991. By welcoming all into its fold, students enrollment increased to 558 students with 16 teaching and 1 non teachings staff in 1990 which further rose to 830 students with 19 teaching and 2 non teaching staff in 2000. On public demand All Saints was upgraded again and in 2006 it became a Higher Secondary School. At present All Saints Family comprises of more than a 1000 students, 40 teaching and 4 non-teaching staff, and the extended family of thousands of Saintinians from 1965 till date, who have walked through the portals of this institution. Clearly, this tremendous growth shows the trust, encouragement and supports the parents in particular and people of the district at large have given to All Saints.
All Saints has a cosmopolitan nature with students from varied backgrounds, cultures, tribes, creed and races. Though majority of the students belong to the Zeliang tribe, there is a good number of students belonging to other communities from across the country.
Regular co-curricular activities are organized in the school. Sports Week, Cultural Week, Fresher’s Day, Teachers Day, Children’s Day, Sales Day, Parting Social, Parents Day, All Saints Day, Study Tour, Participation in various competitions at the district and state levels etc have helped students to develop their talents and abilities making them shine out across the state. Students regularly participate in competitions and have come out successfully in flying colors. In the year 2009, a student from the School represented Peren district in the Youth Parliament and Parliamentary Quiz Competition in the state level and bagged the first prize. The students also been representing Peren district in various State level Essay competitions and Painting Competitions.
In order to encourage the student community to actively participate in various activities and to nurture their in-born talents and abilities; there are different clubs active working in the school such as Peace Channel, Eco Club, Red Ribbon Club etc. There is daily assembly where teachers take turn to address the assembly to encourage and motivate the students. Along with normal classes the school has moral and religious instructions being imparted to the students for their moral and religious development. In order to keep the teachers up to date with the latest developments and trends in the field of education, regular in-service trainings are also conducted for the teachers.
Many Saintinians are doing well across the state with many popular Politicians (including the State planning Minister and his lady-wife), Bureaucrats, contractors and public leaders getting their early education from this school. In order to impart computer education, a computer lab was set up in 2003 and at present there are more than 20 computers for the students along with LCD projectors and other accessories.While the School has a combined science lab, a reading room and a library with more than 2500 titles; broadband connection is made available in the computer lab for the students. About 250 titles are also kept apart as teacher’s reference books.
From 1991 till date there has been an impressive growth in the percentage of HSLC and HSSLC toppers. Already over 20 batches of HSLC students and over 4 batches of HSSLC students have passed through the portals of this institution with good results. Saintinians have entered into almost all walks of life and doing well in various field. It has become the premier institution in Peren District holding high the lamp of knowledge and sharing the same with anyone who passes through its portals.
Public and parental support has over the years helped All Saints to reach this level of growth and academic excellence. Dedicated staffs and Management, along with disciplined Saintinians have created a conducive learning environment in All Saints. Qualified and experienced Teachers, who are approachable and willing to spend extra time with children, coupled with the School’s strong administration makes All Saints ‘the right place’ to learn. The conducive teaching-learning ambience, strict discipline and innumerable achievements have given students the privilege to develop their inborn talents through various co-curricular activities.
Last 49 years of hard work has borne fruit today and plush infrastructure have come up across the school compound. Future perspectives include providing every opportunity for the students that they may excel with Topper ranks. All Saints have grown to higher levels of excellence from its humble beginning 49 years ago. No doubt, dedicated service of the Management, Staff, Alumnus and sincere support from the Parents and the public, coupled with the genuine interest and hard work from the learners have borne fruits.
Azeu Namcyn Hau
